UNS — Being an entrepreneur, opening a farm or farm product processing is an option for Animal Husbandry graduates. This option provides an opportunity to apply their knowledge and create job opportunities for the community. uns.ac.id team got a chance to chat with Rahmat, Animal Husbandry Program Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta graduate who works in farm business by opening Rahmat Pullet Farm since his student years.
Born in 1996, Rahmat explained he likes animals and animal-related matters. This hobby encouraged Rahmat to study Animal Husbandry at the Faculty of Agriculture UNS in 2014. UNS is selected because it is closer to his home, and he could commute. “At first, I want to study veterinary medicine, but UNS does not have the program, so I choose Animal Husbandry. So, it is not far from my interest,” he explained on Tuesday (6/7/2021).
His business started in his fourth year when his teachers requested him to find pullet or laying hens seeds for his teacher’s project. From this experience, Rahmat got the idea to start selling pullets. He started with 50 hens, 100 hens, to 200 hens, which he continues developing until he establishes his current business in Ngemplak, RT.03/RW.08, Ngemplak, Genengan, Jumantono, Karanganyar District.
“At the time, I did not have capital. So, I purchase then sell, but now, on average, I could sell almost thousands every month,” Rahmat explained.
The increasing demand for pullets from the industry, which increased from 150 chickens in 2015 to 160 chickens in 2016, encouraged him to develop his business further. Rahmat estimated that laying hens are productive for 90 weeks, translating into 1.5 million pullets needed every week. “Seeing the high need for pullet in Solo Raya showed the great opportunity, but the challenge is also equal,” Rahmat said.
Capital-Intensive Business
The first challenge in the business is competing with big companies with a specific division for a pullet. Second, the nature of the poultry business, which is capital-intensive and has high risk. “You can say (this business) is easy to learn but is capital-intensive. Thus, it requires appropriate poultry management, good management. If you make a mistake, if it got affected by a virus, it will be a problem,” Rahmat explained.
Another challenge is the increasing feeding price. Rahmat also explained that pullet price, which is usually stable, experienced significant fluctuation and hard to predict during the pandemic. Therefore, entrepreneurs need to read market conditions.
Prioritize Quality and Education for Breeders
The key to his business, Rahmat mentioned, is the quality assurance of his pullet since the beginning. He also provides education for his buyers. His product quality is ensured through day old chicken (DOC) system. If they are forced to reduce their quality, they will select Grade A or below the Super Grade. Rahmat added that the success of pullet is determined by 30% of pullet genetic and 70% of the management process. Thus, selecting a good DOC contributed 30% to the success.
His education for his buyer is another vital factor. According to Rahmat, 80% of breeders have minimum education on-farm management. Most of them are beginners and self-taught farmers. Considering this condition, Rahmat Pullet Farm provides weekly assistance, offline assistance at the farm for those living around Solo, and online for farmers from other regions.
“So, we do not leave them alone. We educate these farmers to increase their knowledge. Automatically, with more knowledge, their management will be better, they will continue their business. If farmers developed, Rahmat Farm would also develop,” Rahmat said.
Rahmat explained that the knowledge he learned in UNS greatly help him in managing his business and in educating farmers. He uses many basic knowledge and theories he learned at the university to provide knowledge backed by science. At the end of the interview, Rahmat reminded students, especially his junior in Animal Husbandry Program UNS, who want to work in the same field to start early like him.
“If you don’t start now, it will not become something in the future. Everything needs careful consideration,” he concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Kaffa Hidayati
Editor: Dwi Hastuti